Leakage of Rafale papers amounts to theft, has put national security in jeopardy, Centre tells SC

New Delhi, March 13:
The Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that leakage of sensitive documents by photocopying in the Rafale case amounts to theft and this has put national security in jeopardy. In an affidavit filed in the apex court, the government said that the petitioners are guilty of leaking sensitive information. “Those who’ve conspired in this leakage are guilty of penal offences including theft by unauthorized photocopying and leakage of sensitive official documents affecting national security. These matters are now subject of an internal inquiry which commenced on Feb 28,” the government told the court. Petitioners Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie, Prashant Bhushan are guilty of leaking sensitive information, the Centre said. The defence ministry said that the documents attached by the petitioners in the Rafale review case relate to war capacity of the combat aircraft. “Documents in review plea sensitive, relate to combat aircraft and available to adversaries putting national security in jeopardy,” the Centre told the court. “Selective, incomplete facts and records by petitioners are aimed at misleading court which is damaging to national security,” the Centre said.